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Australia Bans DeepSeek on Government Devices Over Security Risks

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Australia has announced a ban on the Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from all government devices, citing national security concerns. The government issued a mandatory directive requiring all federal agencies to prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek’s products, applications, and web services on government systems. Any existing instances of these services must also be removed, according to a statement released by the Department of Home Affairs.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described DeepSeek as posing an “unacceptable risk” to government technology, with the ban being enforced to protect the nation’s security and interests. The move was made swiftly, responding to growing concerns regarding the startup’s potential vulnerabilities.

This ban does not apply to private citizens, only targeting government-operated systems. The decision follows a broader international trend, with several other countries, including Italy and Taiwan, also taking steps to restrict DeepSeek’s influence. Taiwan recently banned government departments from using the company’s services, while Italy imposed similar measures.

The launch of DeepSeek has raised alarms in the tech industry, particularly with its low cost and minimal hardware requirements compared to rival AI models. The startup’s emergence has led to significant market volatility, with global tech stocks experiencing declines as investors question the viability of Western investments in AI infrastructure.

Australia’s action is part of its broader efforts to tighten control over foreign technology, following its previous ban of the Chinese social media app TikTok on government devices two years ago over similar security concerns.

 

Palantir Shares Surge on Strong AI-Driven Revenue Outlook

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Palantir’s shares soared more than 18% in premarket trading, following a forecast of upbeat annual revenue driven by the growing demand for its data analytics services, particularly from businesses eager to adopt generative AI technologies. The company’s market capitalization is set to increase by about $35 billion, based on current share prices of $99.31.

The firm’s platform, AIP, has seen strong growth as businesses accelerate investments in AI, utilizing the platform to test, debug, and evaluate AI scenarios. Russ Mould, an Investment Director at AJ Bell, remarked that Palantir is capitalizing on the AI wave, with industries making substantial technological investments.

Palantir’s co-founder Peter Thiel’s company is now viewed as a major player in the AI sector. Matt Britzman, Senior Equity Analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, compared Palantir’s AI success to Michael Jordan’s dominance in basketball, describing the company as a leader delivering game-winning results.

Palantir’s Chief Revenue Officer, Ryan Taylor, reiterated that the company would discourage commercial clients from using DeepSeek’s AI models but would continue to work with those who opt for them. U.S. officials are currently reviewing the national security implications of DeepSeek, with concerns raised by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Additionally, Taylor noted that new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump could further boost demand for Palantir’s analytics services, especially in supply chain and logistics management.

Following the announcement, at least nine analysts raised their price targets for Palantir, with Morgan Stanley upgrading its rating from ‘underweight’ to ‘equalweight,’ recognizing Palantir as a significant player in the AI space.

 

Alphabet Faces Investor Scrutiny Over AI Spending Amid Slowing Cloud Growth

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Alphabet is set to report earnings on Tuesday, with investors closely watching its substantial AI investments as revenue growth slows due to weaker advertising and cloud performance. The Google parent’s capital expenditure for 2024 is estimated at $50 billion, with further increases expected in 2025 to support cloud expansion and AI-driven search enhancements.

The rise of low-cost AI models, such as those from Chinese startup DeepSeek, has intensified concerns over a potential AI price war. Alphabet, like Microsoft and Meta, is defending its high AI spending, arguing it is necessary to maintain a competitive edge.

Google Cloud, a key growth driver, is anticipated to show a slowdown in the fourth quarter. The segment is expected to report a 32% revenue increase, compared to 35% in the previous quarter. This performance will be scrutinized following Microsoft’s recent results, where Azure’s core cloud services underperformed despite AI-driven gains. Analysts are keen to see whether Google experiences a similar trend.

Alphabet’s Search and Other revenue is projected to have grown 11.2% in Q4, slightly lower than the 12.2% increase in Q3. The company continues to face rising competition from Amazon and TikTok in the digital ad space. However, higher political ad spending linked to the upcoming U.S. Presidential elections may have provided a temporary boost.

Overall, Alphabet’s revenue is estimated to have grown 11.9% year-over-year to $96.6 billion, reflecting a slowdown from the previous quarter. Despite a 7% rise in its stock price this year, concerns about a potential deceleration in its cloud segment have mounted, especially after Microsoft’s disappointing cloud results.

Investors will be closely watching Alphabet’s ability to balance AI investments with profitability, as well as its strategy to maintain leadership in both the search and cloud computing markets.